First Two Weeks In Olvera

We have been in Casa Resolana, Olvera now for 2 weeks. We have been spending most of our time in and around Olvera either walking or cycling on the Via Verde. 

The weather has been warmer than normal. Everyday has been sunny with high temperatures in the high 20s. Over night temperatures generally drop to 12 to 15C so the morning are a pleasant time to walk.  We have been averaging 10K per day walking. Within the 10k we have been averaging more that 40 flights of climbing. 

We have been buying groceries at the local super market and preparing most of our meals. There is a good selection of restaurants in Olvera but the timing for meal service does not work for us. We are up fairly early and don't like to take an afternoon nap, so waiting for the restaurants to open and get their kitchen ready means that you can't go out to eat until 8:00 pm.  Even then, you would be the only patrons in the restaurant and the kitchen may not be ready to serve until 9:00 pm.  By then we are ready for bed.

The sun sets around 8, so most evenings its wine, tapas and sunset!  I could have taken the photo below just about every evening since we have been here. 

Twice now we have been bicycling on the via verde. Our route is to ride the section from Olvera to Coripe and return, about 45K round trip.  The first half is easy but the ride back uphill in the hot sun is more challenging.  There is a nice little restaurant at the old station in Coripe for refreshments or a light lunch.  Below are a few photos taken from the via verde on one of our bike rides.

Olvera Castle from the via verde

Zaframagon,  a nature reserve for nesting Griffon Vultures

On the Zaframagon viaduct

So far we have taken a couple of  trips on the motorcycle. One overnight trip to Ronda and a day trip to a hiking trail in the nearby mountains. 

Linda wanted to do something for my birthday, so we booked a room in cute little little guest house on the old part of Ronda and did a nice little road trip though the mountains (Sierras de Grazalema) stopping for coffee in Zahara and lunch in the town of Grazalema. 

Ronda is located in quite a spectacular setting. The old town is built an outcropping of rock separated from the "mainland" by a deep gorge. It is located about 40 kilometres (in a straight line) from the Mediterranean coast. Up until a few years ago it only accessible via a narrow road, too narrow for tour buses, but now that there is a new road it is a popular day trip from the Costa del Sol.  There were lots of tourists.

Puente Nuevo  This is the "new" bridge, as apposed to the "old" bridge a couple of photos lower.

Puente Nuevo

Puente Viejo  the "old' bridge

The sun coming up on Puente Nuevo

Yesterday we rode the moto to Peurto de las Palomas (The Port of the Doves)  for a short hike around the top of the mountain.  We had seen the trail head when we did the trip though this area on the way to Ronda.

The road up to Puerto de las Palomas  is  narrow and winding. Like most of the mountain roads it is just wide enough for two cars to pass each other.  Often you cannot see around the next tight corner. You have to hope that any vehicle coming in the other direction leaves you enough passing space.  Luckily there is not a lot of traffic on this road.

At the top of the pass, there is a view point and parking lot with easy access to the trail (or sendero in Spanish).

 When riding the moto we wear ventilated but padded jackets and pants, helmets and boots. When we go on a day trip we wear shirts under the pants and carry a pair of sandals to wear. Once parked with take off the moto gears and store it in the empty luggage. It's a bit of a hassle but not a big deal if you can find a shady spot to change.

From the top of this pass you can see in both directions. These two photos taken in opposite directions. 

This area has a large selection of senderos ranging in difficulty and length.  The Puerto de las Palomas sendero that we walked is rated as easy. It is a 3K loop around the peak.  We took our time and completed the loop in about an hour and a half or so.

Griffin Vultures also nest on the peak and are often seen gliding over head.  With up to a 10ft wingspan, you get the feeling that they could pick you up.

This photo looks north west. The lake is created by a dam at the west end. The water is low at this time of year.

The white village seen between these peaks is Olvera.

We are enjoying our stay in Olvera.  We extended our stay here for 5 days so in total we will be in Casa Resolan for 5 weeks.  On November 3 we are heading to Seville for 5 days then on to Valencia, by train, for 6 days before catching our flights back to Calgary.

We are planning to leave the moto in storage someplace here in Olvera. We have a couple of leads but havn't found a place yet.

Tomorrow we are off another overnight trip to Tarifa, with a stop for coffee in Gaucin, the town we stayed in last year.